Small but Mighty

Craig Pauly

Description

A biography about the author's mother. Craig Pauly operated a hedge fund ( Insight Enterprises ) until 1994. Following a three year hiatus, he served as a full time Adjunct Professor  at Western State University of Colorado teaching economics and finance. He was a member of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange for 25 years as an independent floor trader.

Sujets

• Personal Memoirs
• Women
• Biography
• Woman
• The Women
• Autobiography

Informations

• Publié par: Outskirts Press
• Date de parution: 24 mai 2023
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781977265364
• Langue: English

Extrait

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Small but Mighty A Biography of Judy Marks Pauly All Rights Reserved. Copyright © 2023 Craig Pauly v1.0
The opinions expressed in this manuscript are solely the opinions of the author and do not represent the opinions or thoughts of the publisher. The author has represented and warranted full ownership and/or legal right to publish all the materials in this book.
This book may not be reproduced, transmitted, or stored in whole or in part by any means, including graphic, electronic, or mechanical without the express written consent of the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.
Outskirts Press, Inc. http://www.outskirtspress.com
ISBN: 978-1-9772-6536-4
Cover Photo © 2023 Craig Pauly.. All rights reserved - used with permission.
Outskirts Press and the "OP" logo are trademarks belonging to Outskirts Press, Inc.
PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Table of Contents
Part One
1. The Garden of Eden
2. The Grandmas and the Grandpa
3. Feeling Loved
4. Kiski, the Later Years
5. A New Beginning
6. Culture Shock at the National Cathedral School
7. A Near Death Experience at Rock Creek Park
8. The Home Stretch
9. Bradford Junior College
10. Disaster at Penn State
11. Judy’s First Real Job
12. The Wedding
Part Two
13. An Odd Beginning
14. A Time to Move
15. Stabilization
16. Therapy and Some Radical New Options
17. A New Beginning in Lake Forest
18. Family Fun
19. VELP
20. Lake Forest Country Day School
21. Furnishing a 6,500 Square Foot Home
22. The Tipping Point
23. First Date
24. Living in the Shadows
25. Evanston
26. The Seven Months
27. Santa Fe, New Mexico, Via Boston, Massachusetts
Part Three
28. Life Begins Anew at Forty-Five
29. Our First Year
30. 1990: The Year of Our Marriage
31. Our Favorite Recreational Activity
32. Mom’s Cooking and Santa Fe’s Restaurant Scene
33. A Typical Day in Santa Fe
34. Judy, Her Children, and Nana
35. The Garden Club
36. The Children’s Visits
37. Fun Times at Vanessie
38. Judy’s Orchard and the Fruit It Bore
39. Kathy Rice and Her Family
40. Hospice
41. Desert Retreat
42. Some Final Thoughts From Santa Fe
Part Four
43. Doubletop Ranch: More Than Just a Home, A Way of Life!
44. Snow!
45. Winter/Spring 1994–95
46. Escape
47. Judy’s Garden
48. The Cabins/Their Story
49. Chapel in the Spruce and the Stone Furling
50. Trail Building
51. Ten Thousand Miles of Memories
52. Wildlife at the Ranch
53. Benefits, Weddings, and Family Reunions
54. Judy on Broadway
55. The Spiritual Sisters
56. Winters Away from Home
57. Goodbye Doubletop, It’s Been a Wonderful Ride
58. Cashiers, North Carolina
59. My Inspiration
– Loving Thoughts from Loving Friends –

Remembering four historical figures who were, like Judy, "small but mighty":

Alexander the Great 5'0"
Joan of Arc 5’2"
Napoleon Bonaparte 5’6"
Mother Teresa 5’0"
Judy Marks Pauly 5’3"
Introduction
IN THE FALL of 1943, with the world engulfed in a horrific war, something very nice was taking place in the maternity ward of a Pittsburgh hospital. The precise time was 11:45 p.m. on Saturday, October 30th. A little girl was born, weighing a mere five pounds and six ounces, who would bring immense joy to all those who came her way over the ensuing eight decades. Her physical appearance, however, belied the naturally pleasing looks with which she was blessed throughout her life. This little infant took her first breath just fifteen minutes before Halloween, displaying a full crop of spiked black hair, causing Mommy to appropriately, but briefly, call her the Spook! As much as I would have loved to have been witness to this magical moment, that would not have been possible since my birth was still three weeks away. My name is Craig, her biographer, and the little girl’s name is Judy. For the record, Judy’s full name at that time was Judith Andrews Marks. It is from this point that I’ve been given the distinct honor to have been her husband for thirty-two years and to tell the story of her remarkable life.
PART ONE
CHAPTER 1
The Garden of Eden
WELL, NOT THE actual one, of course, but a place, a culture, and a way of life that, to Judy, may have seemed close to the heavenly domain inhabited by our ancestors Adam and Eve. Even with the world at war, those fortunate enough to reside within the confines of Kiski Prep School’s campus felt far from it. To put this into historical context, I should point out that folks there could listen to two of the most popular songs of that tumultuous year, Bing Crosby’s "Oh What a Beautiful Morning" or "As Time Goes By" sung by Rudy Vallee. Mr. Smith Goes to Washington was featured on the big screen just down the hill in the not so charming coal mining town of Saltsburg, Pennsylvania. There, of course, was no television nor were there any automobiles produced that year and none in 1944 or ’45, for that matter. But in the Garden of Eden, who needed one anyway! Sunshine, one of many nicknames given to Judy by her father, was not simply the only daughter in the Marks family but also the only little girl on the entire campus. But from the stories I’ve been told, she was simply treated as "one of the boys." No special treatment was expected nor given.
A brief history of Kiski Prep shows that it was founded in 1888 and is the oldest remaining all-male boarding school in America today. The school is situated on 350 rolling wooded acres overlooking the confluence of the Allegheny, Susquehanna, and Monongahela Rivers. These rivers, and the land that surrounded them, carried significant meaning to the several Native American tribes who resided there. Unlike many Native tribes who were in continuous conflict contesting territory and hunting grounds, those in Western Pennsylvania lived in relative harmony. The vast salt deposits were hugely appealing to the local population of Native Americans, enabling them to preserve their meats for long periods of time. These deposits served not only the local populations but also drew Native Americans from the entire region. Appropriately, the town that subsequently emerged was given the name of Saltsburg. This was consequential for a young, sensitive Judy who, even then, was spiritually in tune. Empirical evidence of her spirituality was evident when, at the tender age of four, she set off into the dark forest with a box of matches, gathered a few small twigs, and built a tiny fire. As the minute flames turned into glowing embers, she asked God for an explanation of her existence. God answered, "Your name is Judy and you are Mine."
As if the peaceful history of the land upon which she lived, along with the verification from God to whom she belonged, were not sufficient reason for Judy to realize that this was her Garden of Eden, there is more…much more! There exists a rich and unbroken family heritage at Kiski dating back to 1888 when her great-grandfather (on her mother’s side) founded Kiski School. Three decades later her grandfather (on the father’s side), James Marks Sr., was elevated to dean. Mr. Marks was not only an effective academic leader but also built the all-boys boarding school into a football dynasty. A noteworthy member on one of these legendary teams was a running back by the name of Harry Stuhldreher, who achieved immortality as one of the Four Horsemen of Notre Dame in the 1920s.
With the passing of James Marks Sr., Judy’s father, James Marks Jr., was named assistant headmaster. Jim Junior also was the head football coach and history professor. In 1957, when Judy was fourteen, life in the Garden of Eden came to a sad conclusion when her father was passed over for the position of headmaster. More on that devastating day later in this book.
Child psychologists almost unanimously agree that a person’s most formative years occur from birth to age eight. It would appear to this writer as well, and to all who have ever known her, that Judy’s love for all humanity found its origins during those early and critically important years. It comes, therefore, as no surprise that her life has been a charmed one. In the subsequent chapters, I‘ll delve into that magical life in her Garden of Eden.
CHAPTER 2
The Grandmas and the Grandpa
BY RECOUNTING THE life and experiences of Judy, one may draw the rather obvious conclusion that her life was more than merely charmed. Some would argue, falsely, that she was spoiled. The word "spoiled" by definition means "damaged character by being treated too leniently or indulgently and without responsibilities or consequences." In her case, Judy’s character was not damaged; she was charged with responsibilities, and there were consequences for poor behavior to be sure! Judy had to "earn" the lifestyle she was provided. Failing to tell the truth regarding serious matters, in the mind of her father, would occasionally result in the belt to her behind…shocking but true. There were no two-minute "timeouts" for such transgressions. The threat of such a horrific fate for a young girl was a sufficient deterrent so that telling the truth, no matter how difficult, was the obvious and only choice. Respect for others, elders in particular, came easily for her since her mom and dad led by example. The same was true with respect to manners e.g., common courtesies, conversational tone, and table manners. There were no exceptions when it came to visits to her grandparents. Judy was an intelligent girl, and it was therefore expected that hard work would result in great outcomes…and they did. Never was there an exception! Sadly, none of her report cards have been archived so they could not have been included in this story as evidence of Judy’s achievements. Her record was not entirely unblemished, however. Sometime in the fourth or fifth grade her teacher felt compelled to inform Mom and Dad that their little girl was displaying a propensity for some unwanted cla